The screening of the new “Godzilla” film in 3D was a magnificent work as far as visuals but its the human story running parallel with Godzilla’s obvious attempts to protect humanity throughout the movie that the characters were slow to catch on too, that stood out to this reporter. “Everyone has their favorite monster movies like “Jaws or “Alien” that are character based.” Director Gareth Edwards explained. The film starts you off with a different take on the 1954 original where Godzilla was awakened through nuclear testing to this time around humanity attempting to destroy Godzilla with nuclear bombs at the start of the film which showed grainy highights of the nuclear era in the 40’s.
The first quarter of the film sees scientists excavating something which resembled the caverns in the Alien Films. Initially by the shape it implies Godzilla. It was something else. Its awakening brought about the tragedy awaiting Joe Brody, played by Bryan Cranston and his wife played by Juliette Binoche, who he sends to the underground cavern while the plant was melting down. Bryan acting is brillant as he sets the tone early in the film and the helplessness as he is forced to close the door on her and seeing her through the window, asking him to protect their son, Ford, knowing she was doomed, was beyond tears.
Ford sees the collapse of the plant where his family worked and the look that CJ Adams who plays Ford as a child, presents says it all. He eventually grows up to join the military and marry Elizabeth Olsen (Elle Brody) and has a son of his own while desperately trying not to repeat his father’s mistakes. Soon they both would have to take seperate paths to find each other again. Elizabeth Olsen was drawn to the role by director Gareth Edwards vision of her character. “It was his presentation and him explaining the history and that it was the embodiment of human error that was so fascinating about it.”
His father convinced that the accident was not human error, spends all his time trying to prove that the accident was not nature related but something else. He gets arrested regularly trying to re-enter his home to procure disks that he felt would prove him right. Joe’s son, (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) initially thought he was crazy yet started to see that he was not quite so when he convinced him to trespass to the area and upon revealing the air to be clean, he learned a valuable lesson his father tried to impart to him not to never give up on your family. “He “Gareth grabs you by the heart and twists it.” Aaron explained.
He takes that lesson and lives it throughout the film in various adventures as he came into close proximity throughout to Godzilla and two other monsters, one a mantis type that was reproducing and a smaller male counterpart that could fly and harrassed Godzilla throughout. It was quite a physical road that tested him to his limits. “I always try to do as much as I can do. Trying to push it best I can and to be as natural as I can be everyday was a challenge in itself.” Aaron Taylor-Johnson explained.
Its here that we are introduced to Dr.Daisuke Serizawa, (Ken Watanabe) who takes the traditional role played by his Japanese counterparts in previous Godzilla incarnations, and when Joe and his disks are captured, they are able to confirm needed data. “He holds to Godzilla but cannot control him. He can only suggest.” Ken explained. But ultimately he he could see that they really were helpless and that the only way to stop them was to let them battle it out. “Let them fight” was a memorable line at that point.”When Godzilla roars, its really loud.” Watanabe recalls. “Its like he’s scolding us, humanity’s foolishness.”
Eventually the two on one battles saw Godzilla and man, directly and indirectly, helping each other agsinst the two protagonists. Whenever Godzilla came near to defeat, he rallied with help or used the distractions that the human armed forces offered. In the end, his nuclear breath made its appearance to great roars. In the end husband and wife reunite and it takes a heroic effort from Ford to win the day in the end. Godzilla was faithful to its tradition but was able to bring new things into the equation. Godzilla roar and trip back to the water was a symbol of wrath and a reminder for man to be wary of technology and the responsibility that goes with it. “Its back to nature really. The idea is that we went full circle.” Gareth shared. The story encompassed alot of real, world events in recent times like the tsunami that hit Japan and the nuclear meltdown that followed as a result. Earthquakes and the still relevant nuclear weapons issue also played large. “All we wanted to do was let them know we love Godzilla as much as you do, and this is going to be something different but we get the past.” A Toho representative said.
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